Exercise

How To Stay In Shape And Healthy On A Budget

Pricey gym memberships, expensive home gym equipment and high-cost personal trainers may make you feel like you can’t afford to exercise. But, there are many simple ways you can exercise and be healthy on a budget.

Image from Daily Perricone

From simple home workouts to online training tips, there are many different ways you can keep in shape without breaking the bank.

To help you find all the best low-cost workout plans so you can stay healthy, we have put together a quick and handy guide just for you!

Make a schedule

While a monthly gym membership means that you are more likely to workout, due to the expense of it, it costs you money. It is vital that you take the same approach to your budget workout. Just because it doesn’t cost you anything, it doesn’t mean you should feel less motivated to do it.

Make sure to create a schedule and put your weekly workouts on it, this will help you stick to your workout regime and take it more seriously. Make a conscious effort to limit interruptions—leave your phone in another room and tell your family not to disturb you.

Lay your workout outfit out the evening before, as this will remind you that your session can’t be missed.

As part of your workout planning, create an exercise playlist. Pick upbeat, fast songs; that will keep you motivated and active. You could also create different length playlists for different workouts. For example, you could create a 30-minute playlist as well as a 60 minute one, for different regimes.

Pick workouts you can do at home

Instead of choosing workouts that require pricey equipment, choose ones that you can do in your living room or garden. While it can be difficult to figure out the best exercises for you, all you need to do is look online, do your research, and try things out.

A good workout should consist of both cardiovascular exercise and strength training. It is vital that all your major muscles are targeted in three of your weekly workouts. For best results, ensure that your workouts include between 30 to 60 minutes of cardiovascular exercise, at least, five times a week. Make sure that you always stretch before and after your workout. Otherwise, you may end up injuring yourself.

Some of the best home workouts consist of things like squats, push-ups, jumping jacks, and crunches. For a step-by-step guide to these exercises, look online. Only take advice from a reputable fitness company or instructor.

Use items from your home as gym equipment

Image from Kerrizane

Think outside the box, and you will see that your home is already full of gym equipment. You’ll be surprised at the amount of home objects that can double as workout equipment.

Instead of buying dumbbells, use cans of soup. Cans of soup can be used as makeshift weights to tone and strengthen your triceps or biceps while working out at home.

Fill old water bottles with sand or salt and use them as makeshift weights. Lift your bottles up and down as you do your squats, as you would with weights in the gym.

Use your kitchen counters as a pushup bench. Just make sure that they are sturdy before you go putting your whole weight onto them. It is essential that you find a countertop that is the right height for your pushups—check the kitchen and bathroom to find the perfect one. If all else fails, a sturdy table or your bed might also do the trick. Once you have found the perfect area, place your hands on the surface, spread your legs out behind you at an angle, slowly lean down to the counter, and then push yourself back up.

Instead of buying resistance bands, use a pair of old tights. Yep, you heard me right, a pair of old tights. They work just as well, and best of all, don’t cost a penny.

Find motivation online

You may find that you can exercise better if you have goals being set for you. If this is the case, use the internet to find free or low-cost online apps and websites that can provide you with the motivation you need. Fitness websites like workoutbox.com are excellent tools for coming up with workout ideas and exercise inspiration.

You can also access lots of workout tracking apps and tools that allow you to track your daily exercise regimes. You can also use these tools to create your own workout schedule, track your progress, and even find like-minded people with whom to exercise.

Another excellent online resource for motivation and ideas are video sharing sites like YouTube. Video sharing sites tend to have lots of free training videos and guides that you can use to workout. However, only take advice from fully qualified fitness instructors. Otherwise, you may end up injuring yourself.

Exercise whenever you can

If you have half an hour to spare, take your dog for a walk in the park. Once you get there, let your dog go for a run while you use the park benches for step-ups and other exercises.

If you are watching television, get up during the adverts and use your staircase to do some step-ups or your countertop to do press-ups.

If you own a bike and usually drive to work, why not save yourself money on fuel and parking and cycle to work. You may need to leave home half an hour earlier than usual, but cycling to work is an excellent way to keep in shape.

Plus, you don’t need to worry about getting stuck in rush hour traffic—you can just cycle straight past it. Always ensure sure that you wear a helmet and are safe when on the roads.

By following these easy guidelines, you will be sure to stay in shape and healthy without breaking the bank!

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